Tanvi Vyas | The Guardianhttp://www.theguardian.com/profile/tanvi-vyas
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EasyJet profits, while disabled passengers lose | Tanvi Vyashttp://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2012/feb/01/easyjet-profits-disabled-passengers-lose
The airline's policies have repeatedly failed disabled people – its profit margins may come at too high a price<p>When easyJet released its <a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/01/26/uk-easyjet-idUSLNE80P01M20120126" title="">trading figures</a> for the fourth quarter of 2011, it reported a 16.7% increase in revenue, taking pride in the fact that its confident financial performance bucked the trend of poor sales across other UK airline carriers. However, while the company's bosses may be patting themselves on the back for a job well done in the face of economic gloom, news of its financial successes will be leaving a sour taste in the mouth of many disabled people.</p><p>News of the airline's profits comes just weeks after it was found guilty by a French court of <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-16552904" title="">discrimination</a> against three disabled passengers. It was fined by the court for turning away three disabled customers at check-in during separate incidents, refusing to allow them to fly unaccompanied due to health and safety fears over evacuation of the aircraft. The airline also came under fire this month when a <a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2087391/Disabled-businessman-refused-entry-EasyJet-plane-walk-emergency-exit.html" title="">disabled businessman was forced off an aircraft</a> in a humiliating scene in front of passengers, due to his inability to &quot;walk to the emergency exit&quot;. The prosecution for the French case laid the blame squarely at the door of the airline's &quot;aggressive commercial policy that consists of reducing operating costs as much as possible&quot;. Additional personnel on aircrafts to assist disabled, elderly or younger passengers certainly doesn't come for free.</p> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2012/feb/01/easyjet-profits-disabled-passengers-lose">Continue reading...</a>easyJetDisabilityAirline industryBusinessSocietyBudget travelTravelWed, 01 Feb 2012 09:00:09 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2012/feb/01/easyjet-profits-disabled-passengers-loseBarry Batchelor/PA'News of easyJet’s profits comes just weeks after it was found guilty by a French court of discrimination against three disabled passengers.' Photograph: Barry Batchelor/PABarry Batchelor/PA'News of easyJet’s profits comes just weeks after it was found guilty by a French court of discrimination against three disabled passengers.' Photograph: Barry Batchelor/PATanvi Vyas2012-02-01T09:00:09Z